The Lifestyle Nov - Dec 2023

THE 

LIFESTYLE 

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023 

FESTIVE 

favourites 

GIFTS, RECIPES AND MORE 

man with a 

HAMMER 

Greg Penn on his 

renovation top tips 

WIN 

A DELUXE FESTIVE 

FOOD HAMPER, A 

SMART HEATING 

SYSTEM, LINGERIE 

AND MORE! 

home for 

CHRISTMAS 

Getting the home ready 

to receive guests 

stopover 

SUN 

Making the most of 

transiting through Dubai 

TRAVEL | HOME & GARDEN | FOOD & DRINK | BEAUTY | INTERVIEWS

West Coast 

Cool - how 

to get that 

Southern 

Californian vibe, 

page 36 

EDITOR’S NOTE 

it's beginning to look a lot like... 

The most wonderful time of the year is upon us, 

and I don't know about you, but I'm already feeling 

that tingly, tinsel-filled excitement! It's the season 

of twinkling lights, scarves and hats, and, of course, 

the joy of gathering with friends and family. So, 

grab a cup of hot chocolate, curl up by the fire, and 

let's dive into the December issue! 

As we prepare to welcome guests this holiday 

season, we've got you covered with a fabulous 

guide on getting your home ready for company. 

From creating a beautiful table, to making a guest 

bedroom fit for a snow queen, we'll help you make 

your home the warmest, merriest, and most inviting 

place for your loved ones. 

Of course, no holiday season would be complete 

without indulging in some mouthwatering culinary 

delights. We've got some fabulous recipes to whet 

your appetite. 

Now, let's talk about one of the most delightful 

challenges of the season – gift-giving! We 

understand that finding the perfect present for 

those hard-to-please folks on your Christmas list 

can sometimes feel like a mission impossible. Fret 

not! In this issue, we've scoured the globe (and the 

internet) to curate a list of great gifts that will leave 

even the most challenging recipients grinning from 

ear to ear. 

This December, we're here to be your merry little 

elves, bringing you the magic and joy of the festive 

season. So, sit back, relax, and let us be your guide 

to a truly memorable Christmas. After all, 'tis the 

season to be jolly, and we're here to make sure 

you're positively brimming with holiday spirit! 

Wishing you a season filled with warmth, laughter, 

and love, 

i minervapublications | www.minervamagazines.co.uk 

MINERVA PUBLICATIONS 

Paxcroft Farm, Hilperton BA14 6JB | T 01225 984 430 

Front Cover courtesy of Nkuku | Assistant Editor: Kate Norris 

Contributors: Rebecca Rose, Angela Cave, Matthew Biggs 

Would you like to find out about advertising? Simply email 

studio@minervapublications.co.uk or call 01225 984 430. 

www.minervamagazines.co.uk | 3

CONTENTS 

12 

06 COMPETITION 

Fabulous goodies to 

be won, from luxury 

hampers to lingerie 

12 RECIPES 

Delicious recipes for 

the festive season 

18 GIFT GUIDE 

Our ultimate gift 

guide - catering for 

everyone on your list 

24 WINTER SUN 

Making the most of a 

layover with a trip to 

Dubai 

26 STAYCATIONS 

Two gorgeous UK 

breaks if you need 

some R&R 

29 EDUCATION 

Advice from the ISC 

and IAPS 

34 HOME FOR XMAS 

Preparing your home 

for the arrival of 

Christmas guests 

40 RENOVATION 

Top tips on renovating 

from the pro-DIY-er 

Greg Penn

BOTANICALS 

COLLECTION 

N O W O N L I N E 

18 

33 

www.minervamagazines.co.uk 

STERLING SILVER AND GOLD 

VERMEIL JEWELLERY WITH 

SEMI-PRECIOUS STONES - 

FROM £10 | hauslife.co.uk 

| 5

Time 

COMPETITION 

Find out more about entering our competitions online 

at www.minervamagazines/competitions. 

All the below close on 15th January 2024 with the exception of 

Copas which closes on 10th December 

CHRISTMAS HAMPER 

WORTH £500 

We have the ‘Decadent Christmas in a 

Box’ to give away to one lucky reader. 

Worth £500, this delicious hamper is 

filled with goodies, including a 6kg 

free range turkey, 4.5kg unsmoked 

ham, 1kg side of salmon, 1kg organic 

Cheddar, 1kg Cropwell Bishop Stilton, 

Christmas Pudding, Harrow & Hope 

Brut Reserve, Pigs in Blankets, a range 

of luxury sauces and oils and Copas 

Rosemary Gin. 

You can see the full Christmas range at 

www.copasturkeys.co.uk 

Keyword ‘Copas Turkeys’ 

WIN A CANDY SMART WINE 

COOLER WORTH £300 

We are offering one lucky reader the 

chance to win a smart Candy Wine 

Cooler worth over £300. This appliance 

helps preserve the natural taste and 

smell of your wine, giving you the 

experience of a professional wine cellar. 

Smart home appliance brand Candy 

has partnered with Vivino - when you 

connect to the hOn app, you can 

enjoy the ‘SNAP MY WINE’ function 

- allowing you to keep a record of the 

wines in your cooler, helping you pair 

wine with different kinds of food. 

Keyword ‘Candy Wine Cooler’ 

BATTERY-POWERED 

PRUNERS 

STIGA, a world-leading manufacturer 

and distributor of gardening machinery 

and equipment, announces its firstever 

battery-powered pruner, the SC 

100e. The SC 100e’s exceptional 

performance pruning capability adapts 

to the operator’s needs and to the 

task at hand. Its high-quality carbon 

steel blades are extremely sharp. With 

an option to select from three blade 

opening settings, this allows the cutting 

and trimming of branches up to 3.0 cm 

in diameter. We have three of these to 

give away! www.stiga.com/uk 

Keyword ‘Stiga Pruner’ 

SOS SUPERSTARS SET 

Give the gift of radiant skin this 

Christmas with the SOS Serum 

Skincare Superstars Beauty Elixir 

gift set. Inside there’s a gel-cream 

cleanser, hydrating daily moisturiser 

with SPF 30, a Night Cream that is 

ready to help you regain healthy skin 

that positively glows and nourishing 

and mattifying lip balm with broad 

spectrum SPF 30. We have 4 sets to 

give away, comprising SOS Cleanse, 

SOS H20 Day Cream SPF 30, SOS 

Night Cream, SOS Lip Balm SPF 30, 

andEssential Drops Fragrance for the 

Home: Pomegranate & Lychee 

Keyword ‘SOS Superstars’ 

A LUXURY LINGERIE SET 

Create a storm this winter... New 

bra and brief set, Bobette, is both 

luxurious and seductive. 

Featuring feminine lace and with a 

generous cleavage the elastic lace 

creates a three dimensional look in an 

exciting play of colours. 

Choose from the elegant Black or 

breath-taking Ruby Red versions. 

Available from www.ouhlala.co.uk 

Bra - £72, Shorty £33. Fits B-E cup 

We have two sets to give away. 

Keyword ‘Bobette’ 

A SMART HEATING KIT 

FROM WISER! 

Wiser, the award-winning smart 

heating system, is giving two lucky 

readers the chance to win a home 

heating kit worth £299.99, which 

includes a Room Thermostat, Heat 

Hub and two Radiator Thermostats. 

Easy to install, the Wiser heating 

system can lower your energy bills by 

up to 30% per year. Wiser is available 

in classic white or stylish anthracite to 

suit your home. To find out how Wiser 

can help you save on your energy bills, 

head to wiser.draytoncontrols.co.uk 

Keyword ‘Wiser Energy’ 

6 | www.minervamagazines.co.uk

22 Nov – 13 Jan 2024 

22 Nov – 13 Jan 2024 

From £15* 

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*Ticket price includes a £1.50 booking fee. 

*Ticket price includes £1.50 booking fee.

Rubis Tweezers 

Slanted w/Leather 

Tweezer Case, £47.99, 

amazon.co.uk 

Animal Park 

Wallet, £30, 

vendulalondon. 

com 

Particularly British Piccalilli, 

Caramelised Onion Marmalade, 

Cranberry, Port & Orange Sauce, 

Christmas Spiced Chutney, £6.80 each 

Cotton Kimono-Style 

Dressing Gown, 

£39.99, and Alie Leaf 

Gold Plated Earrings, 

£11.99, hauslife.co.uk 

Stihl PG 10 Secateurs, 

£13.25, and Gardening 

Gloves, £26.20, stihl.co.uk 

Elevate Wine Glass, Set of 2, 

£35, dartington.co.uk 

Soho Street Cocktail 

Pouch, £28.99, 

sohostreetcocktails.com 

Assorted Chocolate Almonds 

and Nougat Luxury Selection, 

£35, farhi.co.uk 

Kocktail Bottled Cocktails - 

classics and new spins! All 

bottles £27, kocktail.co.uk 

Gold Plated Huggie 

Earrings, £30, 

matchboxjewellery.com 

time to 

WIN 

One lucky winner will win everything 

on this page. You can enter by joining 

our competition club, a single entry or 

by post - all details can be found here: 

minervamagazines.co.uk 

Competition closes 10am, 01/12/23 

Entrants must be over 18y/o. Please note, 

if some products are not available, the 

brands reserve the right to send an 

equivalent value prize 

instead. T&Cs apply. 


Christmas 

Workshops 

with Crochet 

Bouquet 

Get crafty this Christmas with 

handmade decorations, with local 

crafting business Crochet Bouquet. 

Offering a range of different workshops - including Christmas 

pudding baubles and super chunky yarn wreaths - workshop 

host Jen takes you through the basic steps to create your own 

projects. Each session comes with two hours of expert tuition, 

followed up with online video tutorials. 

Get 

10% OFF 

with code LIVING10 

exclusive for 

Marlborough Living 

readers. 

Will you make a wreath in the shape of a Christmas Pudding? Or 

will you buck tradition in making a bright pink pom pom wreath? 

The choice is yours. 

With sessions spread across Wiltshire, Berkshire and Somerset, 

there is something for everyone this festive season. Looking for 

something a little different to do this Christmas with your friends, 

family or for your office party? These fun Christmas workshops 

are suitable for all ages and skill levels. 

“I started teaching friends and family years back, finally branching 

out into running bigger workshops this year. It’s been so 

much fun meeting new people and taking people from ‘I can’t 

ADVERTISING FEATURE 

craft’ to confident crocheters! I craft every day, and being able 

to share that love with others is incredible. I’ve taught over 

100 people in the last 6 months, and what better way to keep 

spreading the love of crafting than with a bit of festive cheer.” 

Not crafty but know somebody who is? Crochet Bouquet offers 

a gift voucher or a selection of crafty kits, which make perfect 

stocking fillers for the crafters in your life. 

CHRISTMAS PUDDING DECORATIONS 

8 Nov 6:00pm The Court Street Gallery, Trowbridge 

9 Nov 7:00pm Burdall’s Yard, Bath, Somerset 

13 Nov 10:00am Craft Studio, Pewsey 

7 Dec 6:00pm Overton Framing Studio, Manton, 

Marlborough 

11 Dec 6:00pm Overton Framing Studio, Manton, 

Marlborough 

YARN WREATHS 

11 Nov 2:30pm Burdall’s Yard, Bath 

5:30pm Burdall’s Yard, Bath 

13 Nov 6:00pm Overton Framing Studio, Manton, 

Marlborough 

30 Nov 6:00pm Overton Framing Studio, Manton, 

Marlborough 

18 Nov 10:30am The Mulberry Bush, Thatcham 

20 Nov 7:00pm Springfield Community Centre, Corsham 

22 Nov 6:00pm The Court Street Gallery, Trowbridge 

6 Dec 6:00pm The Court Street Gallery, Trowbridge 

29 Nov 6:00pm Holt Village Hall, Holt 

1 Dec 1:30pm Fisherton Mill, Salisbury 

3 Dec 11:00am Fisherton Mill, Salisbury 

8 Dec 6:00pm Phoenix Hall, Netheravon, Salisbury 

9 Dec 2:00pm Wootton Rivers Village Hall, Wootton 

Rivers, Marlborough 

5:00pm Wootton Rivers Village Hall, Wootton 

Rivers, Marlborough 

9 Dec 10:00am Croft Hall, Hungerford 

10 Dec All day Corn Exchange, Devizes 

1:1 sessions, group tutorials and workplace parties 

available on request 

www.crochetbouquet.co.uk/living 

crochetbouquetbyjen@gmail.com 

i @crochetbouquetbyjen f crochetbouquetbyjen

a very very special 

Christmas 

ORDER BY THE 5 TH OF NOVEMBER 

TO RECEIVE A FREE GIFT 

COPASTURKEYS.CO.UK • 01628 499980

CHRISTMAS 

Delicious recipes for dessert and those sides, plus gifts galore 

for everyone on your list 

Image - Nkuku Christmas

Cooking for 

CHRISTMAS 

We have some delicious recipes from the appliance 

pros at Cuisinart to make festive hosting easier 

Shredded Brussels & Pancetta 

INGREDIENTS 

80g pancetta, cubed 

125g sprouts 

Lemon Dijon 

Vinaigrette 

1 clove garlic, slightly 

crushed 

1 lemon, juiced 

3 tbsp dijon mustard 

40ml apple cider 

vinegar 

120ml olive oil 

2 tsp honey 

Sea salt & pepper 

METHOD 

Add the pancetta to a medium / 

hot frying pan and cook until the fat 

renders and the pancetta is crispy. 

Place the pancetta on paper towel 

before setting to one side. 

Trim and peel the sprouts. In the Easy 

Prep Pro, set up the fine slicing disc in 

the large work bowl and process the 

sprouts on ‘HIGH’. 

Set up the small work bowl with the 

small chopping/mixing blade. 

Add all the vinaigrette ingredients to 

the small work bowl. Secure the lid 

and process on ‘HIGH’ until a thick 

emulsion forms. Season with sea salt 

and black pepper. Run the machine 

using the ‘PULSE’ button until 

thoroughly mixed. Pour the vinaigrette 

into a suitable jug for serving. 

Place the sprouts into a serving dish 

and drizzle over a generous serving 

of the vinaigrette. Combine well and 

scatter over the crispy pancetta. 

Tip: Any remaining vinaigrette can be 

stored in an airtight container in the 

fridge for up to 5 days. 


The 

MARLOW 

DONKEY 

has had a makeover, 

come in and see us! 

Station Road, Marlow SL7 1NW 

Scan the QR code to book your table ...

Letting your holiday home 

has never been easier 

The Rural Retreats portfolio represents the best luxury self-catering holiday 

properties across the UK. Our expert team is dedicated to managing your 

holiday home with the same care and attention as you would, and with tailored 

services to suit your needs, you can be involved as much or as little as you like, 

knowing that you and your guests are in safe hands. 

01386 898 658 

newowners@ruralretreats.co.uk 

ruralretreats.co.uk

Spiced Victoria Sponge 

METHOD 

Preheat the oven to 180ºC / Fan 160ºC / 

Gas Mark 42. 

Grease a fluted bundt cake tin, alternatively 

you can use two greased and lined 20 cm 

springform cake tins. This will produce a 

more traditional cake. 

Set up the large work bowl of the Expert 

Prep Pro with the large chopping/mixing 

blade. Place the butter and sugar in the 

bowl and process on high until creamy. 

Add the eggs through the feed tube one by 

one, processing between each addition. Add 

the vanilla essence, cinnamon and nutmeg. 

Process to combine. 

INGREDIENTS 

250g butter, room temperature 

250g caster sugar 

4 medium eggs 

1 tsp vanilla essence 

1 tsp ground cinnamon 

1 tsp grated nutmeg 

175g self raising flour 

75g ground almonds 

1tsp baking powder 

Clementine Cream (not shown) 

300 ml double cream 

1 tbsp sifted icing sugar, plus some for 

dusting the cake 

1 large Clementine, zested and 1 tbsp juice 

To Serve 

Seasonal berries 

Chopped pistachios 

Add the flour, ground almonds and baking 

powder. Process lightly. 

Pour the cake mixture into the cake 

tin(s) and smooth the batter until 

level. 

Bake in the oven for 30 to 

35 minutes until the cake 

is golden brown on top 

and a skewer comes out 

clean. 

Allow to rest for a 

moment in the tin(s) 

before turning out 

onto a wire rack 

and leave to cool 

completely. Decorate 

the cake with berries, 

chopped pistachios 

and lightly dust with 

icing sugar. 

Make the Clementine 

cream by softly whipping 

the cream with the icing 

sugar, Clementine zest and 

juice using the whisk attachment 

of the hand blender. Serve with the 

clementine cream. If using traditional 

springform tins the clementine cream can be 

used between the sponges. 


Winter Pavlova 

METHOD 

Preheat the oven to 140ºC/120ºC 

fan/gas 1.Line a baking tray with 

greaseproof paper. Mark out 

a 23cm circle on the backing 

paper to help size your pavlova. 

Attach the whisk attachment to 

the Cuisinart Hand Blender and 

whisk the egg whites in a clean, 

dry bowl on a medium setting 

until frothy. Add the cream of 

tartar and the white wine vinegar. 

Continue to whisk on a higher 

setting until the egg whites start 

to form stiff peaks. 

Gradually beat in the sugar, 

whisking it back to stiff peaks 

after each addition. When it 

is glossy and smooth spoon 

the meringue mixture onto the 

baking paper, making a shallow 

dip in the centre with the back of 

the spoon. 

Bake in the oven for 70 minutes, 

until the meringue looks slightly 

gooey in the middle and crisp on 

the outside. Turn the oven off, 

leaving the door open slightly 

and allow the meringue to cool 

completely. 

Whip the cream to soft peaks 

using the whisk attachment of 

the Cuisinart Hand Blender on a 

high setting. Whisk in the icing 

sugar and vanilla essence being 

careful not to over whisk the 

cream. 

Spoon the cream onto the 

cooled meringue and decorate 

with the clementines. 

Sift over a dusting of icing sugar 

before serving. 

INGREDIENTS 

4 egg whites 

1 tsp cream of tartar 

1 tsp white wine vinegar 

225g caster sugar 

250ml whipping cream 

1 tbsp sifted icing sugar 

1 tsp vanilla essence 

4 - 6 peeled clementines 

Icing sugar for dusting 


Keratin-coated hot air styler with 

8 accessories for drying your 

hair and creating different styles 

with a single movement, £99.99, 

bellissimaitalia.co.uk 

Alya Phone Case Bag Leather 

Black, £69, lonestaroflondon.com 

A divine diffuser 

to fill your house 

with scent, 

Cedarwood 

and Bergamot 

Reed Diffuser, 

£49, voya.ie 

Hayman’s 

Sloe Gin, £29, 

haymansgin.com 

Comes in 

a matching 

cotton gift 

bag 

Cotton PJ Sets, from 


gifts for 

HER 

Hotel-quality dressing gowns - with 

embroidery options available Hotel 

Velour Robe, £70, tielleloveluxury.co.uk 

Beautiful, unique tea 

blends and accessories 

birdandblendtea.com 

Handleless Coffee 

Cup, £11.99, 

hauslife.co.uk 

More than just an air 

fryer, it’s a master in slow 

cooking, roasting, and 

more, thanks to precise 

temperature control. 

I-Master Air Fryer Series 

5, £229.99, haiereurope.com 

Taittinger Prelude 

Grand Crus 

Champagne, 

johnlewis.com 

gifts for 

HIM 

British Wool Honeycomb 

Chunky Jumper, £79.95, 

glencroftcountrywear. 

co.uk 

This offers 

interchangeable 

grinding discs, a 15° 

grinding angle for a 

filigree edge and a 20° 

grinding angle for more 

robust blades. £159, 

horl.com 

Ideal for 

cooks and 

outdoor 

enthusiasts 

Herbs with no soil in 

sight! Hydro-Herb 

Hydoponic Kit, £25, 

hydro-herb.co.uk 

Super soft bamboo socks with a 

donation to animal charities. Save 

the Tigers Bamboo Socks £9.95, 


Give an experience 

to remember with 

a day on the tracks 

in supercars. Triple 

Premium Driving 

Day, £129.99, 

redletterdays. 

co.uk 


Family-friendly party game. 

Players earn points by getting their 

teammates to guess words and 

phrases using only single-syllable 

words. If you use any words 

with more than one syllable, the 

other team gets to bop you with a 

2-foot inflatable club. Poetry for 

Neanderthals, £19.99, Age 7+, 

Amazon, Smyths 

Magic away boredom 

on journeys with 180 

wizarding questions. It 

seems like it would be 

easy to name 3 Hogwarts 

Students—but can it be 

done under the pressure 

of 5 seconds? Harry 

Potter 5 Second Rule 

Mini, ages 8+, £9.99, 

Smyths 

Players must find their way to famous 

Pokémon characters in this simple 

strategy game of moving mazes 

Pokémon Labyrinth, Age 7+, £27.99, 

ravensburger.co.uk 

best 

GAMES 

The 100% offline party game 

where players compete 

to create the funniest text 

message thread. Players rotate 

drawing a sent card while the 

rest of the group competes 

for the funniest reply. Once 

everyone has played their 

chosen reply card, the judge 

decides which combo is the 

funniest. New Phone, Who 

Dis, 21.99, Age 17+, 

Amazon, Smyths, 

MenKind, Game 

Pass the parcel with 

a revolting twist - 

this hilarious family 

game gets everyone 

giggling! When the 

music stops, Farty 

Freddie will fart, 

giggle or burp - and 

if he lets out a trump 

so BIG he shakes 

and then you’re 

OUT! Farty Freddie, 

£19.99, Age 4+, 

Smyths 

Yoto Mini lets kids explore 

their imaginations as they 

explore the world. Kids 

from 3-12+ use physical 

cards to explore the 

best audiobooks, music, 

activities and educational 

audio on the move. 

£59.99, uk.yotoplay.com 

Elmer Applique 

Zip Sleepsuit, £23.50, 

jojomamanbebe.co.uk 

M.Y X 

Skate Complete 22 Inch 

Beginner Skateboard, 

£15.99, amazon.co.uk 

Pokémon Sleeping Charmander 

Pokémon 46cm, £39.99, smythstoys.com 

gifts for 

KIDS 

Organic Cotton Space 

Print Kids Pyjamas, £28, 

polarnopyret.co.uk 

Perfect for 

hard-to-buyfor 

teens 

The perfect STEM gift. Once 

assembled, children learn 

about music notations 

and can compose 

their own tunes by 

placing the pegs in 

different slots. £37.99, 

smarttoysandgames. 

co.uk 

Perfect activity packs for 

all ages, toucanbox.com 

Slimline Hollywood 

Mirror £84.99, 

vonhaus.com 


A delectable assortment of the most 

delicious Italian goodies - this is a great 

option for those avoiding alcohol at 

Christmas, but there are lots of great 

options on the website. The Grand 

Teetotaller, £93, lavialla.com 

gifts for 

FOODIES 

Microplane Bowl Grater £20, 

microplane.com 

Give your health a boost with a gutfriendly 

hamper, Christmas Gut Health 

Hamper, £38, momo-kombucha.com 

Perfect smoked salmon 

from the experts. 

Whisky & Soy Glazed 

Salmon from £9.90, 

smokin-brothers.com 

KitchenAid Cast 

Iron Almond Cream 

Non-Stick 26cm 

Casserole Dish 

with Lid, £200, 

hartsofstur.com 

The Scottish 

Pantry £85, 

baxtersofscotland. 

com 

Salt and Pepper Mill, Set, 

£29.99, amazon.co.uk 

Chocolate Slab Gift Box, £54.99, 

meltchocolates.com 

Every bottle of Sea 

Change helps fund 

ocean conservation 

projects across the globe. 

Christmas Day 

Pack, £38.99, 

seachangewine.com 

Leather Jellyfish Cat Teaser Toy 

£29, cheshireandwain.com 

Woov is a cordless heating dog pillow 

with infrared technology and rechargeable 

battery. Heated Pet Cushion, 60x90, 

£139.95, uk.stoov.com 

Dog Mama Ceramic 

Travel Mug £28, 

aliceandwoody.co.uk 

Fur Bebe Pet 

Shampoo by OUAI, 

£28, amazon.co.uk 

gifts for 

PETS 

Save the oceans with this green 

marble effect sustainable dog 

bowl. Made from recycled fishing 

nets, it’s sure to take pride of place 

in any one of your rooms. £29.99, 

tanglemission.com 


Sponsor a Redwings 

rescued horse 

www.redwings.org.uk/adopt 

01508 505246 

Named in honour of 

the Queen’s Jubilee, 

stunning Monarch 

was born at Redwings 

in April 2022 after his 

mother Majesty was 

sadly hit by a vehicle. 

Sponsor Monarch from 

as little as £2 a month 

and you’ll receive 

an adoption pack 

including Monarch’s 

story and a stunning 

photo, plus regular 

updates. 

TwoJays Corner 

Antiques & Vintage 

Unit 21c, Lamledge Lane Industrial Estate, 

Shifnal, Shropshire TF11 8SD 

01952 462340 • www.twojayscorner.com 

Find the perfect piece for your home or garden 

Open Wednesday, Saturday & Sunday 

10:30am to 4pm and by appointment in between. 

Find us tucked in the corner of Shifnal Industrial Estate, TF11 8SD 

SUPPORT 

ARMONICO 

✩✩✩✩✩ THE TIMES 

✩✩✩✩✩ LE FIGARO 

✩✩✩✩✩ THE INDEPENDENT 

✩✩✩✩✩ BBC MUSIC MAGAZINE 

“Pure Pleasure” ✩✩✩✩ THE GUARDIAN 

THE FRENCH CONNECTION 

30th September 7.30pm – Collegiate 

Church of St Mary, Warwick 

5th October 7.30pm – Malvern Theatres 

Join Armonico 

Consort for a 

programme which 

embraces the 

French passion 

for pretty much 

everything from, 

food to literature and 

music, and from art to, well, national strikes. 

Nobody does it better than the French! 

Alongside the fabulously triumphant and 

arresting Te Deum by Charpentier (a work 

whose main theme is still used by the 

Eurovision Song Contest) are his lesserknown 

compositions, paired with those of 

Lully and Delalande. The work of these fine 

composers epitomises the brilliance of the 

French baroque in pretty much every form. A 

further highlight of this programme is a short 

work by Rameau, which many hail to be the 

most beautiful piece of music ever written. 

This performance is generously supported 

by Mr Nigel May and Mr & Mrs David and 

Rosemary Holding. 

IN DULCI JUBILO! - 

A BAROQUE CHRISTMAS 

BY CANDLELIGHT 

6th December 7.30pm - Collegiate 


9th December 7.30pm - Malvern 

Theatres, Worcestershire 

Few countries celebrate Christmas like the 

Germans do, although the city of Venice 

comes pretty close! 

From the magisterial splendour of the 

Venetian baroque to the grand and hugescale 

works of the Michael Praetorius, 

one thing is certain – Christmas inspired 

composers to create the greatest tunes 

even back in the 16th & 17th Centuries! If 

you have never heard In Dulci Jubilo sung 

in 21 different parts, you must not miss 

this concert! 


by Mr Tim Coghlan, Braunston Marina 

ARMONICO CONSORT’S 

PRESIDENT’S CAROLS AT 

WARWICK CASTLE 

20th December 7.30pm – Warwick 

Castle, Warwick 

Following the sell-out success of this event 

in 2022, we once again invite you to join a 

select group of Armonico Consort’s finest 

singers for this brand new and exclusive 

event as they welcome Christmas in the 

magnificent setting of the Great Hall at 

Warwick Castle. 

Arrive through the beautifully lit courtyard, 

past glittering trees, to the Great Hall 

where you can enjoy a welcoming drink 

and begin your Christmas celebrations 

in exquisite style. (You could even go ice 

skating before if you are brave!) 

Armonico Consort will perform traditional 

carols in this unique setting, steeped in 

history, featuring pieces which may have 

featured in festive celebrations at the 

castle throughout the past almost 1000 

years! 

This performance is generously supported by 

Roger Medwell MBE DL 

Price includes welcome drink 

CAROLS BY CANDLELIGHT 

21st December7.30pm - Collegiate 


Carols by Candlelight has become a firm 

tradition of Armonico Consort’s festive 

programme over the past 22 years. What 

better way to enjoy the warmth and joy of 

the Christmas season than in the sublime 

candlelit setting of the Collegiate Church 

of St Mary, Warwick for a feast of carols, 

combining traditional favourites and 

newly-discovered works. 

Don’t miss out on the chance to purchase 

Armonico Consort’s brand-new carols 

recording which will be available this 

Christmas. 


by David Phillips MBE & Phillips and Becker 

Accountants Ltd 

Tickets: www.armonico.org.uk Box office: 01926 334418 (WARWICK) | 01684 892277 (MALVERN) 

Registered charity no. 1103159 


Christmas and 

New Year 2023 

At Three Ways 

CHAPEL LANE, MICKLETON, 

CHIPPING CAMPDEN, GL55 6SB 

TEL - 01386 438429 

Whether you’re looking for a festive lunch, private party or festive Pudding Club, 

we have something to suit everyone this Christmas. 

All things festive at The Three Ways Hotel, Mickleton. 

Just 15 minutes from Stratford-upon-Avon... 

Whether you are looking for Dinner Parties, 

Afternoon Tea, their Famous Pudding 

Club, Private Dining, Christmas Dinner with 

loved ones or a sparkling New Years Eve 

bash they have it all covered at the Three 

Ways House Hotel, Mickleton. 

Under the new leadership of Chris Short 

the General Manager, and new chef Neil 

Peers, you will not be disappointed by 

the new restaurant menu and Vin X Bistro 

menu on offer. The Vin X Bistro is a relaxed 

environment, great for meeting friends and 

family for lunch, dinner and drinks. What 

could be better than a selection of fine 

wines from around the world to appeal 

to everyone’s taste? Whether you’re a 

connoisseur or simply wish to enjoy your 

favourite tipple. They now also offer local 

Shakespeare’s Beers and a range of local 

Gins and Ciders. Chris has quite a history 

with the hotel as he held his first Head 

Chef role at the hotel back in 1995, and 

is deeply passionate about delivering 

amazing food. The hotel is already gaining 

a fantastic reputation for its wonderful 

Sunday lunches. 

tastings, and speciality themed nights 

are already being planned to offer their 

customers a great experience. Further 

investment upgrading the hotel, rooms and 

garden are planned for early next year…… 

there will even be a new name…..so watch 

this space. 

Vin-X specialise in providing their clients 

with some of the world’s most famous 

wines to invest in. Iconic Bordeaux First 

Growths, Burgundy Grand Crus and top 

performing Champagnes are their everyday 

focus. With these great wines comes 

access to superb ‘drinkers’ that aren’t easy 

to come by in the UK high street. 

To find out much more information about 

what we have to offer, and our Christmas 

occasions, please visit our website 

www.threewayshousehotel.com/ 

christmas-2023/ 

Why not also scan here to enter into a 

competition to win a festive Afternoon Tea 

for 4 people in December. 

Exciting Times are ahead at The Three 

Ways Hotel, Mickleton. The hotel has been 

under new ownership now since February 

2023 and you may have noticed the 

investment to the site has already begun. 

A new alfresco terrace has been installed 

at the front of the hotel, a great spot for 

meeting friends, stopping for a coffee with 

your four-legged friend or simply enjoying 

a glass of wine. Once inside you will see 

the interior has also been upgraded in 

the Vin X Bistro. Gourmet dinners, wine 

GIFT VOUCHERS 

Treat someone special this Christmas

TRAVEL 

A stopover to remember in Dubai, plus a luxury London stay 

and a south Wales staycation

A STOPOVER 

to remember 

W Dubai - Mina Seyahi 

With over two thirds of the world’s population living within an eight-hour flight 

of Dubai, it’s little wonder that it’s such a hub for travel. If your next long haul 

trip sees you transiting through, Katie Thomson has some suggestions about 

how to turn your stopover into a trip to remember. 

I’ve usually been in the camp of 

‘direct flights only, just get me on 

holiday as quickly as possible’ 

but a stopover is both financially 

economical and sometimes the only 

option for certain destinations. 

But, instead of whiling away four 

hours between flights with endless 

phone scrolling or duty-free 

shopping, I decided on my most 

recent trip to the Maldives to make 

more of the journey, with three 

night stopover in Dubai. And you 

know what? I’m now a fully paid-up 

stopover super-fan, and I want to 

tell you what not to miss. 

ACTIVITIES 

Dubai really is the city of activities 

- whether you are a thrill-seeker, a 

history buff or a die-hard shopper, 

you’ll be well-catered for. 

As this was a short stopover, 

we wanted to explore Dubai in a 

different way, so opted to see more 

of the city by water on a HERO 

Dubai Sunset Boat Tour. 

These two-person boats can reach 

speeds of up to 50kph and are a fun 

alternative to sightseeing Dubai’s 

beautiful skylines. You’ll stop at 

famous landmarks like Burj Al Arab, 

Ain Dubai, the Palm islands and 

many more, whilst getting to test 

your handling skills and take in 

some panoramic vistas. 

You’re taken out by an experienced 

guide, who’ll point out the 

architectural gems, alongside the 

palatial holiday homes of Emirati 

royalty. 

Dubai is sometimes considered 

to be a bit of a culture-vacuum, 

but if you’re interested in learning 

more about the Bedouin lifestyle, a 

Platinum Heritage Tour is the perfect 

way to see Dubai’s protected 

deserts and understand more about 

the history of the region. 

Eco-friendly tours take in the sites of 

Dubai’s deserts in luxury - there are 

lots of options, including camping 

out overnight, but we decided on 

a ride in a 1950s open-top Land 

Rover. The tour started by decking 

us out for the desert with our own 

headscarfs and cooler water bottles, 

before a drive through the rolling 

sand dunes. The visit included 

lots of information about the local 

flora and fauna, a soaring falconry 

display and culminated with a feast 

in a Bedouin camp, complete with 

a drum show and astronomy talk. 

It was such a wonderful way to get 

an insight into a completely different 

side of Dubai, and one I’d implore 

anyone to make time for. 

STAY 

A fantastic base for exploration is 

the beautiful W Dubai - Mina Seyahi 

- part of the Westin complex, guests 

can enjoy all the amenities of three 

hotels in one location. 

From a winding child-friendly pool 

and on-site waterpark, to an adult’s 

only pool, plus a fantastic swim up 

bar, the resort caters for all travelling 


From top to bottom: Expansive views from 

Attiko Restaurant; Rooms at the W Dubai 

Mina Seyahi; Platinum Heritage Desert 

Tours; HERO Boat Tours 

parties - we saw families, hen parties, 

couples and friends all making the 

most of the exceptional facilities. 

The hotel also has its own expansive 

section of beach - meaning you can 

dip in the warm waters of the Dubai 

Marina just steps from the pool. 

The W Dubai - Mina Seyahi is 

architecturally beautiful, modelled 

on a King Cobra with a hood and 

reaching skyward. The design concept 

is contemporary and luxurious, but 

with nods to desert history and 

folklore - including art installations 

featuring stories of Arabian Nights and 

sculptural, modern interpretations of 

Bedouin tents and carpets. 

Right by the pool, you can enjoy 

delicious food from Bussola - a sea 

view Italian restaurant with pizzeria on 

top deck, romantic fine dining below, 

plus terrace bar. 

Don’t miss the chance to visit the 

hotels spectacular Attiko restaurant 

- as well as enjoying expansive, 

glittering views of Dubai’s buzzing 

marina, it serves world-class 

Japanese food. 

PLAN YOUR 

VISIT 

I hope my experiences have helped 

convince you to consider Dubai for a 

longer stopover next time you travel. 

Breaking up a long haul journey helps 

to get you into the holiday mode - 

allowing you a more gentle adjustment 

into another time zone, as well as an 

opportunity to explore. 

TO BOOK: 

HERO Sunset Boat Tour, £218, 

per boat (for up to 2 people) 

heroboattours.com 

Heritage Safari, from £155 per person, 

platinum-heritage.com 

Rooms at the W Dubai - Mina Seyahi 

start from £344 

marriott.com 


STYLISH 

Stays 

Katie Thomson heads for a restorative break at the 

Dylan Coastal Resort, Carmarthenshire 

You may have visited South Wales 

for the gems of the Gower Peninsula, 

or even the coastal routes of 

Pembrokeshire - but if you didn’t stop 

to explore the joys of Carmarthenshire, 

you are missing some of the country’s 

most scenic spots. On its Western 

borders you will find the ancient 

Brecon Beacons, right to the golden 

sandy beaches along Carmarthen Bay 

- there’s so much to discover. 

Nestled in the quiet seaside town of 

Laugharne on the Carmarthen coast, 

the Dylan Coastal Resort is a state 

of the art, luxurious holiday retreat, 

complete with a beautiful spa and Milk 

Wood House, the on-site restaurant 

featuring the best of local produce. 

The Dylan Coastal Resort makes the 

most of the expansive vistas afforded 

by its prime location on the hills 

overlooking the Taf Estuary. The resort 

is a collection of 60 luxury lodges, 

all designed to maximise the setting 

and offer a supremely comfortable 

self-catering experience. Some, like 

our ‘Epic’ lodge, come with a hot 

tub - perfect for soaking up the everchanging 

sea view. 

Taking its name from poet and Welsh 

literary legend Dylan Thomas, guests 

can enjoy the same views as Dylan 

himself - his famous writing hut is set 

on the cliff edge below the resort. The 

setting is certainly inspiring and you 

can visit his hut, as well as enjoying 

some spectacular circular walks taking 

in coastal and woodland scenery just 

a stroll from the main entrance. 

With so much on offer on the site, 

you’d be forgiven for not wanting to 

venture far - there are a few lovely 

eateries in Laugharne, but we loved 

Milk Wood House. With three separate 

terraces to dine on, an open kitchen 

featuring a wood-fired pizza oven, 

and a refined yet rustic approach to 

cooking, the Milk Wood Kitchen and 

Bar is the perfect place to drink and 

dine, soaking in the views. 

Relaxation is paramount here and the 

spa delivers on every level. It has been 

thoughtfully designed to maximise the 

views - the swimming pool featuring 

two-storey windows out to the sea. 

The on-site spa also offers up a host 

of luxury treatments with premium 

skincare brand ishga, to help you relax 

into your stay, brightening, cleansing 

facials to deep tissue massages – all 

of which will be tailored to suit your 

individual needs. 

The resort is ideally placed for further 

exploration - on a gloriously sunny 

day, we took the scenic coastal route 

to Tenby. If you’ve not visited before, 

I’d implore you to - with it’s historic 

13th century fortress walls alongside 

rows of brightly coloured terraces, 

it’s picturesque and a joy to wander 

around. Couple that with it’s bevy of 

independent stores and charming 

pubs, it’s the perfect day trip from 

the resort. 

A trip to recharge the batteries was 

needed and the Dylan Coastal resort 

delivered on every level. If you’re 

looking for a destination which offers 

fantastic facilities, unparalleled 

comfort and the most picturesque of 

settings, consider this beauty spot for 

your next staycation. 

Stays at Dylan Coastal Resort start from £379. 

For more information or to book, please, visit 

www.luxurylodges.com/dylan-coastal-resort 


STYLISH 

Stays 

A resort-style hotel in the heart 

of central London, The Ned has 

all the ingredients of a decadent 

weekend away... 

STYLE 

The hotel opened in 2017 - a 

spectacular conversion of the original 

Midland Bank HQ designed in 1924 by 

Sir Edwin ‘Ned’ Lutyens. The project 

was a partnership between the US- 

Based Sydell Group and the inimitably 

stylish Soho House Group - the latter’s 

astonishing attention to detail evident 

in the impeccable interiors. Stylistically, 

the hotel references the 1920s, Thirties 

and Forties, all with a modern level of 

decadence. Think of polished marble 

floors, deep mahogany and plush 

velvet - plus the beautiful architectural 

framework of the original building. 

LOCATION 

The hotel’s location, steps from Bank 

tube station, is the City ‘proper’ - and as 

such the area is much busier during the 

week than weekends. But you needn’t 

worry about a lack of external activity - 

the hotel itself is so all-encompassing, 

you might not feel the need to leave. 

If you do venture out, the Millennium 

Bridge, leading to delights like the Tate 

Modern and Shakespeare’s Globe 

Theatre are only 15 minutes walk away. 

ROOMS 

The same attention to detail evident in 

the communal spaces is echoed in the 

rooms - many of them furnished with 

Soho House’s own furniture lines. The 

mahogany beds are large and deliciously 

comfortable - perfect for sprawling in 

your fluffy robe. 

There is a generosity in the room’s 

amenities too - full-sized Cowshed 

products in an array of ‘flavours’ are there 

to try, alongside thoughtful touches like 

hair straighteners and charging cables - 

everything is geared toward making sure 

your stay is as comfortable and stressfree 

as possible. 

THE SPA 

For a central-London hotel, the spa 

here is a surprise and a joy. Located in 

a bank vault, the space feels delightfully 

enveloping, and it oozes the same style 

as upstairs with its chequerboard marble 

floor and green verdite columns. The 

treatment menu is extensive - there’s 

a men’s grooming bar as well as a 

hairdressers, alongside a full menu of 

massages and facials. 

The spa space also includes a beautiful 

pink marble hammam space, as well as a 

relaxation lounge and a gym. 

FOOD & DRINK 

The former Grand Banking Hall is 

home to the Ned’s impressive array of 

restaurants, separated by partitions 

created from the bank’s former teller 

stations. From Asian-Pacific cuisine 

at Kaia, to Lutyen’s Grill and Malibu 

Kitchen, you can sample a world 

of flavours in one location. All are 

articulated by the central stage in the 

round, where diners can enjoy live music 

from each respective space. 

A personal favourite is Cecconi’s, an 

Italian restaurant with real flair - it’s food 

for the soul, elevated and made all the 

more special by the setting. Somehow, in 

all the vastness of this space, dining here 

still feels intimate. 

T O S T A Y : 

Bedrooms start from £425 per night. 

Find out more at thened.com 


Divorce and Separation 

– Family Law Partners 

Approach 


Family Law Partners work with clients 

to help them avoid the traditional Court 

process where possible, which is often both 

emotionally and financially draining... 

As a firm we have one of the strongest dispute resolution teams, 

which includes mediators, collaborative lawyers, an Arbitrator 

and a therapist. 

What is Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)? 

ADR is an alternative way to resolve a dispute, other than 

via Court. The majority of clients prefer making decisions 

themselves relating to children and financial matters rather than a 

Judge having the final say. 

In family matters ADR includes solicitor-led negotiation, 

mediation, collaborative law, Early Neutral Evaluation / Private 

FDR, and Arbitration, all of which can be used as individual 

options, or as a combination. 

Two of the most commonly used forms of ADR are solicitor-led 

negotiations and Mediation. 

What is Solicitor-Led negotiation? 

The aim of solicitor led negotiation is to try and reach an 

agreement via solicitors’ correspondence, discussions on the 

telephone between solicitors or a round table meeting. Often 

solicitor-led negotiation is regarded as a good alternative to 

mediation, when mediation is not suitable. 

Mediation 

Mediation is a voluntary, without prejudice and confidential 

process whereby the parties meet with a trained independent 

mediator. The mediator will not impose a decision on the parties 

and instead he/she acts as a facilitator to assist the parties to 

explore and discuss the issues in dispute, with the aim of finding 

solutions. 

Hannah Viet is a Director and Mediator at Family Law Partners, 

specialist family lawyers in Horsham. 

Contact Family Law Partners: 01403 599215 or email 

enquiries@familylawpartners.co.uk. 

A different approach to 

family law 

Our Horsham team deliver exceptional client 

care and promote the use of alternative 

dispute resolution to help minimise both the 

emotional and financial cost of separation. 

The Family Law Partners office is in 

central Horsham. We also advise clients in 

Billingshurst, Cranleigh, Crawley, Godalming, 

Guildford and surrounding areas. 

We can help you with: 

Children matters 

• 

Divorce and Separation 

Dissolution of Civil Partnerships 

Cohabitation disputes 

Prenuptial and Postnuptial agreements 

Cohabitation agreements 

Mediation and Collaborative Law 

For a confidential conversation and to learn 

more about our fixed fee appointments 

contact our team: 

01403 599215 

info@familylawpartners.co.uk 

www.familylawpartners.co.uk 


Top Tips 

when considering an independent school 

Every parent wants to give their child the best start in life, and this naturally 

includes choosing a school that best suits their child’s needs. For many this 

can be a daunting task, and it can be hard to know where to start. 

An independent education remains a 

popular choice for families, with lots of 

different schools to choose from including 

day and boarding, single-sex and coeducational, 

and schools with specialisms 

such as in the arts or sport. 

Open days give families the opportunity to 

see first-hand whether a particular school 

is the right fit. Some schools continue 

to run virtual open days in the aftermath 

of the pandemic, making it possible for 

families to explore what a school has to 

offer from the comfort of their own home. 

There are many different aspects to 

consider when attending an open day, 

so to help ease the process, here are 

some top tips for parents considering an 

independent school for their child: 

NARROW DOWN YOUR CHOICES 

If you live in an area with a number of 

good schools nearby, create a shortlist 

and take time to plan your school visits. 

For parents with a limited choice of local 

schools, the ‘Find a School’ tool on the 

isc.co.uk website is particularly useful, 

as it enables you to refine your search by 

distance, day and boarding, age range, 

fee assistance options and more! If you 

are considering a school which is further 

afield, it’s worth making a day of it so you 

and your child can get a feel for the area. 

THINK ABOUT THE SCHOOL’S 

SPECIALISM OR FOCUS 

All independent schools are different, 

offering unique specialisms and 

strengths. Ask yourself what type of 

school would best suit your child – are 

they sporty, academic or creative? If you 

have an academic child you might like 

to consider a selective school, whereas 

if your child is very creative, you might 

prefer a school with excellent arts 

provision and facilities. 

DON’T BE AFRAID TO ASK QUESTIONS 

Teachers expect parents to be inquisitive 

and are well prepared to answer 

questions, so ask teachers everything you 

want to know; it is always best to speak 

up if you have any queries or concerns! 

Important areas that you might ask about 

include class sizes, the subjects on offer, 

methods of assessment, extracurricular 

activities and pastoral support. 

It would also be worthwhile learning more 

about how the school communicates with 

parents; it’s important that you feel wellinformed 

and able to discuss any matters 

pertaining to your child’s progress or 

wellbeing. If you are considering a 

boarding school for your child, take the 

opportunity to find out more about the 

on-site accommodation, flexi-boarding 

options and what activities take place 

over the weekends. 

Chat to pupils as well as staff and ask 

them about their experiences at the 

school. Much can be learned from 

observing their behaviour – do they seem 

happy, confident and at ease in their 

environment, are they engaged with their 

lessons and wider activities? 

MAKE A FOLLOW-UP APPOINTMENT 

An open day allows you to build an 

impression of what type of school is on 

offer. So, if you are happy with what you 

see, book a follow-up appointment with 

the school. This will enable you to speak 

more personally with the headteacher or 

registrar and provide another opportunity 

to ask any further questions or raise 

concerns you might have. 

The independent sector is diverse, with a 

huge array of schools and approaches to 

education on offer. Make the most of your 

open days, and use the experience to 

guide you as you choose the right school 

for your child. 


The Value of 

Independent Early 

Years Education 

By Sarah Hollingsworth, Head of Gresham’s Pre-Prep School and 

IAPS’ recently-appointed Pre-Prep and Early Years Subject Adviser 

Albert Einstein famously said: “Logic will 

get you from A-B. Imagination will take 

you everywhere.” More recently, worldrenowned 

education expert and adviser 

Dr Ger Graus noted: “Children can only 

aspire to what they know exists.” 

These two much-quoted comments 

have a common theme and highlight the 

power of what children are exposed to 

during their early years and the impact 

this has on their future. 

Early years educators like myself have 

been entrusted with the important task 

of empowering those in our care with 

opportunities to develop essential life 

skills such as resilience, independence, 

kindness and imagination. But early 

years education has to start with what 

parents expose their children to at 

home, not least lots of love, exposure 

to reading, role modelling, but also 

choosing the best setting to entrust one 

of the most important people in their 

lives to. 

This is where it all begins. The period 

from birth to age eight is critical for 

cognitive, social, emotional and physical 

development. Optimal brain development 

requires a stimulating environment, 

nourishing food, top-quality care-givers 

and social interaction. 

Unsurprisingly, this is a hot topic for every 

government, not to mention the Princess 

of Wales, who has spoken recently about 

the importance of early years education. 

A massive part of that is having the best 

practitioners delivering this education 

and having the right opportunities and 

environments for them to learn in. 

I have been fortunate to work across 

the state-maintained and independent 

sectors and benefited from some of 

the very best training and guidance 

during my professional career, including 

incredible continuous professional 

development and leadership training. I 

am also the daughter of an early years 

teacher and, growing up, I witnessed 

how hard my mother worked and how 

much energy she gave to the children in 

her care. 

For the last seven years, I have been 

in a unique position as Headmistress 

of Gresham’s Nursery and Pre-Prep, a 

co-educational day and boarding school 

on the North Norfolk coast. The school 

has three parts: Nursery and Pre-Prep, 

The Prep School and The Senior School, 

each based on a different campus, 

allowing the children to have the security 

of friendships growing with them as 

they move through the school at crucial 

transition stages. 

Gresham’s believes that each child 

is different and has a gift. Our very 

youngest children, aged just two, are 

exposed to many opportunities, with 

access to all the school’s facilities as well 

as acres of woodland, swimming pool, 

astro turfs, tennis courts and sports hall. 

They experience opportunities which 

open their eyes to future jobs, interests 

and passions and also enjoy lessons in 

ballet and music, languages, computing, 

cooking, and outdoor learning half days. 

Research demonstrates high-quality 

opportunities help children to succeed. 

The independent sector is fortunate to 

have small class sizes and all the facilities 

and resources to offer this. 

There is no one more precious than 

our children. They are the future – and 

the future for a hopeful world. So, our 

task is simple. We work to create an 

environment where happy, relaxed, calm, 

courteous and curious children can 

flourish and be their best. 



f a s h i o n & 

a c c e s s o r i e s 

p e r f e c t 

g i f t i n g 

h o m e w a r e s 

& c e r a m i c s 

1 0 % o f f 

u s i n g 

1 0 H A U S L I F E 

www.hauslife.co.uk

HOME & 

GARDEN 

Getting ready to receive Christmas guests, tips on removating, 

plus, mistakes to avoid when saving energy

Robin Large Sofa in Basket Weave, 

Sandstone, arloandjacob.com 

HOME 

for Christmas 

OVERHAUL 

DINING SPACE - is your table large enough 

to host? Consider an extending table, which you can 

keep smaller throughout the year until you need to up 

the size. 

REPAINT - new paint or wallpaper is the fastest, 

and one of the cheapest, to completely transform the 

feel of a space. 

NEW SOFA - just be sure to choose one from a 

company who can deliver in time for Christmas! 

LIVING 

&DINING 

Broccoli Brown, 

Farrow & Ball 

Eyebright by 

Earthborn Paints 

Burano Dining Chair, bridgman.co.uk 

Navy Leaved Plant On Taupe A3 Graphic 

Print, Oak Frame, £45 cultfurniture.com 

QUICK FIXES 

REFRESH WITH NEW 

PRINTS - it’s amazing the life that new 

artwork can inject into a space - try to pick 

a piece which includes the colours of your 

larger furniture pieces, like your sofa. 

Istanbul Lamp, 

£179, hauslife. 

co.uk 

NEW CUSHIONS - seasonally 

change your cushions, you can keep the 

same inners and just swap the covers to 

refresh the space. Add more cosy fabrics 

like velvet, wool and corduroy as we come 

into the cooler months. 

NEW RUG - rugs have big impact 

without having to get new flooring. 

Clear Waters, Tresco by Ted 

Dyer - options from £120 

johndyergallery.com 


GUEST 

BEDROOM 

OVERHAUL 

REDECORATE - updating the room and 

adding elements of interest like panelling can be 

transformative. 

NEW BED - lots of us have guest rooms 

with beds that have been retired from service 

somewhere else in the house. Making sure the 

bed is comfortable and inviting, plus aesthetically 

pleasing gives an instant update - after all, it is the 

biggest thing in the room. 

SOFA BED - for many of us, our guest room 

is now our home office, so it might make more 

sense to have a sofa bed that can act as a break 

out space when you’re working and save space 

when not in use. 

Ca’ Pietra Proper Good Paint 

Pair of Ophelia Droplet Mirrors, £260, frenchbedroomcompany.co.uk 

QUICK FIXES 

NEW LIGHTING - some new table lamps can 

refresh the space, or you can get wall lights with plugs 

to save space on the bedside tables. 

NEW BEDDING - new bedding really refreshes 

a space. Think about providing enough pillows and lots 

of layers like blankets and quilts - it makes a space feel 

inviting. 

ADD ACCESSORIES - decorative elements 

breathe life into a space - too often, guest rooms look 

forgotten about. Pair it right back, get rid of the clutter 

and add things like a reed diffuser, cushions on the bed, 

a mirror and a vase of flowers or a house plant. 

The perfect sofa bed for smaller spaces - 

Swyft Model 08 Sofa Bed swyfthome.com 

French Bedroom Company 

MAKE IT INVITING - adding things like fluffy 

towels, a nice cotton robe to wear or a basket with 

essentials like toothpaste, 

Demira Tassel Cushion, from £36, 

and Nia Tassel Throw, £65, both 



eachhouseart.co.uk 

OVERHAUL 

NEW BATHROOM - It might be time for a new 

bathroom. Depending on your fixtures, you may be able 

to reuse elements and just refresh the tiles. If you are 

undergoing larger works, chat through your plans with 

your bathroom installer to make sure they address all the 

practicalities. 

BATHROOM 

Rhoper Rhodes 

Roddy Wall Light pooky.com 

QUICK FIXES 

CHANGE ACCESSORIES- 

Replace your soap dispenser, toothbrush 

holder, loo roll holder and bin - a little refresh 

can make all the difference. The same goes 

for fresh, fluffy towels. 

REPAINT YOUR WALLS - if you 

don’t have full tiles, a fresh lick of paint can 

make a space feel cleaner and more inviting. 

Emerald Plumage Wallpaper, 

Divine Savages 

Dunelm 

REPLACE OLD/MOULDY SILICON - 

it’s amazing how much better fresh, clean and white 

silicon looks. 

NEW PRINTS - changing up your bathroom 

prints can breathe new life into the space. 

Hand Wash, 

£6.99, kitandkin. 

com; Tray, £35, 

boxwoodhomeinteriors. 

co.uk 


EXCEPTIONAL BATHROOMS 

DESIGNED AROUND YOU. 

CREATING BEAUTIFUL BATHROOMS SINCE 1988 | ripplesbathrooms.com 

RIPPLES WINCHESTER, 13 - 15 STOCKBRIDGE ROAD, WINCHESTER, SO22 6RN | 01962 859296 

SHOWROOMS NATIONWIDE 

Winchester Lifestyle 165x240 +3mm.indd 1 07/03/2023 10:23

Annie Sloan Kitchen Paint 

QUICK FIXES 

REPAINT YOUR CABINETS - if your 

units are in good condition, this is a great way to 

save money and stop the upheaval that a kitchen 

transformation can bring. We advise you only get a 

professional to do this as you need the finish to be 

hard-wearing. Similarly, changing the worktops can 

have a transformative effect. 

LIGHTING- kitchen lighting must be both functional 

and aesthetically pleasing. How about changing a 

pendant light to a spotlight rail for more working light, or 

changing the pendants on your breakfast bar. Try adding 

a wireless lamp to brighten dark corners. 

RESTYLE - change up the accessories you have on 

the sides and have a big declutter 

ARTWORK - hanging some new prints, or propping 

some on open shelves can inject personality into a space 

and make it feel more inviting. 

KITCHEN 

OVERHAUL 

ADD NEW KITCHEN STOOLS - many of us 

buy a quick fix with a new kitchen but it’s good to revisit 

with fresh eyes. 

ADD SOME OPEN SHELVING - it’s a fresh 

way to add a bit more storage and you can display your 

favourite pieces 

Olive & Barr Kitchens 

Wireless Lamp, £150, oka.com 

It might be time to bite the bullet and opt for a 

new kitchen - many of us are living with poorlydesigned 

spaces which don’t stand up to 

familial needs. If you’re trying to get this ordered 

before Christmas, you need to be decisive 

about what you need. Consult an expert 

kitchen designer - they’ll have ideas to 

maximise functionality whilst creating 

something beautiful. 

Print, inkanddrop.com 

Sylvia Kitchen Stool, 

£129, cultfurniture.com 



OLIVE & BARR 

Elkstone Studios Showroom Opening 

This October, British handmade kitchen 

company Olive & Barr is delighted to 

announce the opening of their third 

showroom in the beautiful county 

of Gloucestershire. Situated in the 

immaculate grounds of Elkstone 

Studios, the new showroom is situated 

in the first building on the right as you 

enter, amongst a community of thriving 

businesses, in a delightful setting of barn 

conversions. 

Founded by cabinet maker Al Bruce 

in 2018, Olive & Barr was born out of 

a passion for quality craftsmanship, 

attention to detail and an intuition for 

kitchen design. With a signature Shaker 

style Olive & Barr combine traditional 

joinery with modern techniques to create 

elegant and timeless kitchen cabinetry. 

Having already established showrooms 

in South London and Malvern, the 

shaker kitchen brand is expanding its 

reach to the South-West with its latest 

opening in Gloucestershire. This move 

will cater to the increasing demands of 

their expanding customer base. 

The 1000 sq. ft space has been 

thoughtfully designed to create a homefrom-home 

feel and showcases, a fully 

installed shaker kitchen and boot room, 

enabling customers to witness the 

quality craftsmanship of the cabinetry 

first hand. Open plan and spacious, the 

showroom design centres around a large 

island painted in Railings by Farrow & 

Ball, walled by a selection of beautiful 

bespoke cabinetry, designed for both 

the kitchen and boot room. Decorated 

in calming neutral tones the true-to-life 

layout allows customers to visualise an 

Olive & Barr kitchen in their own home 

and explore the abundance of bespoke 

options available to create their dream 

kitchen. 

With a deep-rooted passion for 

customer care, Olive & Barr believe 

each kitchen is as unique as its 

customer. Upon visiting the showroom, 

visitors are warmly welcomed by an 

experienced kitchen designer who will 

happily discuss their project, however 

big or small. Working from plans and 

measurements, the designer can provide 

a free design service, or if required visit 

the customers home (within 130 miles 

radius of the showroom) and consult on 

creating the perfect shaker kitchen. 

Founder Al Bruce comments: 

“Due to substantial growth, we are delighted to be expanding our 

portfolio, with a new showroom opening in Elkstone Studios, 

Gloucestershire. The showroom will cater to our South-West 

customers, providing an expansive and beautifully designed space 

in which they can admire our handcrafted shaker kitchen cabinetry 

first-hand and discuss their dream kitchen with our talented team. 

We are extremely thankful to our existing clients who have 

supported us thus far and are looking forward to establishing 

lasting relationships with new clients and local businesses as we 

embark on this new chapter.” 

Elkstone Studios, Elkstone, 

Cheltenham GL53 9PQ

How To Transform 

Your Home with DIY 

Renovation 

Top Tips on How to 

Renovate Your Home 

from Plymouth-Based 

Man With A Hammer 

Here, local legend Greg Penn – AKA 

Instagram’s @manwithahammer – 

offers his own insights into dos and 

don’ts when renovating your home. 

With several years of experience 

under his belt renovating the historic 

Admiral’s House in Plymouth, 

Greg has been documenting his 

renovation journey from the very 

start, keeping his followers up to 

date every step of the way. Built in 

1804, Admiral’s House is a Georgian 

building designed by architect 

Daniel Alexander Asher, set over 

five stunning floors with 30 rooms 

in total! 

Greg has some excellent advice 

for those undergoing their own 

DIY renovation projects; whether 

it’s a huge Georgian home like his, 

or you’re just updating your spare 

room, these handy hints will help 

to keep you on track – and keep a 

positive mindset in place! 

40 | www.minervamagazines.co.uk 

PLANNING AHEAD TO 

GET THE BEST USE 

FROM YOUR SPACE 

“When designing a room, before you 

think about paint colours and what 

curtains you might like, the most 

important thing is to understand 

how you’ll use the space. I like to 

draw floorplans, including deciding 

where the furniture is going. From 

here you can work out where lights, 

radiators and plumbing should 

go, which need to be factored in 

early on. When it comes time to 

think about the décor, I also like 

to understand what time of day I’ll 

mostly use the space – what the 

light does has a huge impact on my 

choice of colours, depending on 

orientation.” 

SMART HOMES ARE 

HAPPY HOMES 

“Create a smart home – this may 

seem like a little extra effort and cost 

up front, but it will pay off in spades, 

making your life easier, and your 

home a happier and more efficient 

environment for years to come. One 

smart home choice I’ve made is 

working with Wiser – a smart home 

heating system which means I can 

individually control the temperature 

in each room in my house. It might 

seem complicated initially, and you 

may even feel a little intimidated, 

but with systems such as Wiser, 

installation is super simple, and 

it’s all controlled through a handy 

app, right there on your phone. The 

Wiser system is available in classic 

white or stylish anthracite, so it 

can be seamlessly and elegantly 

incorporated into your chosen 

interiors. You could start your smart 

home journey with something small, 

like a smart doorbell, and work your 

way up. Along with my Wiser heating 

system, I use smart lighting, switches 

and appliances which are all 

connected to the Wi-Fi and it’s made 

such a difference to my everyday life. 

The Wiser factory is located about 3

miles from my house in Plymouth, so 

not only has it made my life easier, 

but I’ve been able to support a local 

business at the same time – winner!” 

“WHEN DESIGNING A ROOM, BEFORE 

YOU THINK ABOUT PAINT COLOURS 

AND WHAT CURTAINS YOU MIGHT 

LIKE, THE MOST IMPORTANT THING 

IS TO UNDERSTAND HOW YOU’LL USE 

THE SPACE.” 

KEEP AN EYE ON 

YOUR PROGRESS 

“Take lots of before and after 

pictures so you can keep track of 

your progress and not lose hope 

when it all feels a bit unachievable! 

This has been so helpful for me in 

my renovation journey – when I’m 

6 months behind schedule and yet 

another extra task has come up, 

being able to see the progress I’ve 

made really helps to lift my spirits 

and get myself back on track.” 

DON’T JUST INSULATE 

– VENTILATE! 

“Whilst lots of people think about 

insulation and draught proofing, 

it’s important – especially in an old 

home – to think about adequate 

ventilation too. Older houses were 

designed to be a bit draughty, and 

to breathe, with roaring open fires 

sending warm, moist air up the 

chimney and drawing in cold, dry 

air from the outside. In an age of 

double glazing and efficient central 

heating, combined with hot power 

showers, the kettle going 10 times a 

day, and significantly more laundry 

than the Victorians would have done, 

you need to allow that moisture to 

escape to avoid damp walls which, 

ultimately, are cold walls!” 

DON’T BE TOO 

HARD ON YOURSELF 

– PROGRESS IS 

PROGRESS 

“Where possible, don’t focus too 

much on deadlines and don’t beat 

yourself up if (when!) they get 

missed. Renovating a home is a 

huge undertaking and it’s inevitable 

issues and extra jobs will arise 

while you’re working. Renovating a 

home – or even just one room – is a 

journey, and it should be an exciting 

and rewarding one; enjoy your 

renovation project and be proud 

of the hard work you’ve put in and 

the results you’ll start to see, even 

if they’re a little later than expected.” 

A WISER RENOVATION 

JOURNEY 

“I’ve been working with Wiser for 

a few years now and have really 

noticed the difference in the level of 

control I have over my heating, as 

well as the money I’m saving, and 

the amount of energy I’m using. 

With Wiser, if you activate Eco and 

Away mode, you could save up to 

a whopping 30% off your energy 

bills – that’s not something to be 

sniffed at! 

“If you’re interested in learning 

more about the Wiser heating 

system, or finding out which 

solution would work best for 

your home, I have a very special 

Man With A Hammer discount 

to share with you – simply use 

code MWAH30 to get a brilliant 

30% off Wiser, in classic white or 

contemporary anthracite to suit 

your style.” 

To learn more about Wiser, visit 

wiser.draytoncontrols.co.uk 


Sophie Conran Sauce Jug & Mini 

Ladle, £43, portmeirion.co.uk 

Set of 4 Yastigi Washed Linen Napkins, 

£28, laredoute.co.uk 

Elevate Wine Glass, Set of 2, 

£35, dartington.co.uk 

St Tropez Champagne Glasses (set of 4, £29) and 

Savona Clear Ribbed Tumblers (set of 4, £19), 

procook.co.uk 

Happy 

HOSTING 

Beautiful serve wear to complement 

your festive spread 

layeredlounge.com 

Japandi Tablescape, 

furniturechoice.co.uk 

Nancy & Betty 

Christmas Cracker, 

nancyandbetty.com 

Large Serving Bowl, 


Sophie Conran Set of 3 Salad Bowls, 

White, £108, portmeirion.co.uk 


“Our guiding principle 

is to deliver care to a 

standard that we would 

expect for our own 

parents and loved ones.” 

Scan to download 

our brochure 

01243 543228 

manager@nytonhouse.co.uk 

www.nytonhouse.co.uk 

Find us on Facebook 

and Instagram 

For the last 45 years, Nyton House 

has been providing outstanding 

care in a beautiful rural setting on 

the outskirts of Chichester, 

West Sussex. 

We aim to enable residents to live 

a happy & fulfilling life, 

we empower residents to make 

their own choices and treat 

everyone with dignity & respect. 

Nyton House 

Residential Care Home, 

Nyton Road, Westergate, 

Chichester, PO20 3UL

energy saving 

mistakes 

James Clark, Technical Training 

Manager at Wiser, reveals the 

common mistakes homeowners are 

making when it comes to reducing 

energy bills. 

LEAVING YOUR 

HEATING ON LOW 

ALL DAY 

“A lot of people think that leaving 

your heating on low all day can help 

save energy and money, however, 

this isn’t necessarily true. In some 

instances (for example in a large 

house with underfloor heating and 

a heat pump system) it may be 

cheaper to have your heating on low 

all day; but what we do know from 

research is for many UK homes, 

having the heating on only when you 

need it is the best way to reduce 

your energy costs.” 

NOT INVESTING IN 

SMART HEATING 

“Upgrading from basic thermostat 

controls to a smart heating system, 

such as Wiser, can help you to 

save money on your annual energy 

bills. With Wiser, you could have 

the heating on in bedrooms and 

bathrooms for the first hour of the 

day, then simply swap it to the home 

office and lounge for the afternoon 

via your phone. In fact, by switching 

to a smart heating system, you can 

save up to 30% on your annual 

energy bills.* 

A smart multi-room heating system is 

a great long-term investment that will 

save you both energy and money, by 

only heating the rooms you choose, 

at the times you decide.” 

OPTING FOR NON- 

ENERGY EFFICIENT 

APPLIANCES 

“Research shows that swapping 

your old kitchen appliances for 

energy-saving models could save 

you hundreds of pounds per year, 

so when it comes to replacing or 

upgrading your appliances, make 

sure you take into consideration their 

energy efficiency credentials. The 

easiest way to compare different 

models is to look at the energyefficiency 

rating label.” 

NOT BALANCING 

YOUR HEATING 

SYSTEM 

“A balanced heating system is a 

much more energy efficient one – 

by balancing your radiators you’re 

making sure that hot water from your 

boiler is reaching all of them. By 

simply asking your heating engineer 

to lower the flow temperature to 

around 55ºC and balance the heating 

system, you could significantly 

reduce your energy bills.” 

OPTING FOR HIGH 

TEMPERATURES 

“Often, many of us use higher 

temperatures than we need around 

the home, most commonly for our 

heating and washing. By dropping 

the temperature of your average 

cycle down to 40ºC, 30ºC, or 

even 20ºC depending on your 

machine, you can make serious 

savings. You needn’t worry about 

your clothes being properly clean; 

modern detergents and softeners 

wash clothes effectively at a lower 

temperature. I would also suggest 

turning your thermostat down by 

just 1ºC – you’ll likely not notice 

a difference in temperature, and 

this small change can make a big 

difference to the amount of energy 

you use, while saving you money off 

your energy bills.” 

To learn more about how the Wiser 

smart home heating system can help 

save you money, visit: 

wiser.draytoncontrols.co.uk 

* Smart thermostat system percentage 

savings based on BEAMA and Salford 

university research statistics 2021. Energy 

mode savings based on Schneider Electric 

research on Wiser user data 2021. 


THE ROAD TO RETIREMENT: 

Property Prospects 

As retirement approaches, many 

individuals contemplate a change of 

scenery, downsizing, or seeking a 

property that caters to their evolving 

needs and preferences. In the UK, 

the retirement property market offers 

a diverse range of options, each 

with unique features and financial 

considerations. 

LOCATION, LOCATION, 

LOCATION 

The importance of location cannot 

be overstated. Consider proximity to 

essential services such as healthcare 

facilities, shopping centres, public 

transport, and recreational amenities. 

Also, think about your lifestyle 

preferences; do you prefer urban 

living, a tranquil countryside setting, 

or a coastal retreat? 

PROPERTY TYPE 

Retirement properties come in 

various forms, including apartments, 

bungalows, and retirement villages. 

The choice depends on your mobility, 

lifestyle, and future healthcare 

needs. Apartments may offer 

easy maintenance and communal 

facilities, while bungalows provide 

more space and independence. 

Retirement villages often provide 

a supportive community centred 

around various amenities. 

ACCESSIBILITY AND 

ADAPTABILITY 

Consider the property’s accessibility. 

Look for features like ramps, wide 

doorways, and grab bars that can 

accommodate any mobility issues 

that may arise in the future. If the 

property requires modifications, 

factor in the cost and feasibility of 

making them. 

SERVICE CHARGES AND 

GROUND RENT 

Many retirement properties come 

with service charges and ground 

rent. These fees cover maintenance, 

communal facilities, and amenities. 

Carefully review these charges and 

their implications on your budget. 

Be aware of any potential increases 

over time. 

LEGAL STRUCTURE 

Understand the legal structure of 

the retirement property. Some may 

be leasehold, freehold, or part of a 

retirement community. Leasehold 

properties may have restrictions, so 

consult a solicitor to review the lease 

agreement thoroughly. 

SOCIAL OPPORTUNITIES 

Retirement properties often provide 

opportunities for social interaction 

and activities. Investigate whether 

there are communal spaces, social 

clubs, or organised events that 

align with your interests. A vibrant 

social life can greatly enhance your 

retirement experience. 

FINANCIAL 

CONSIDERATIONS 

When it comes to finances, think 

about the following: 

Budget: Determine your budget 

before beginning your search. Take 

into account the purchase price, 

service charges, ground rent, and 

any potential future expenses. 

Equity Release: Explore the 

possibility of using equity release 

schemes to fund your retirement 

property. These can provide a lump 

sum or regular income to help with 

the purchase. 

Selling Existing Property: If you’re 

selling your current home, calculate 

the proceeds from the sale and how 

they will contribute to your retirement 

property purchase. 

Downsizing Benefits: Downsizing to 

a smaller property can free up capital 

and reduce ongoing costs. 

Inheritance Planning: Consider 

the impact of buying a retirement 

property on your inheritance plans. 

Consult with financial advisors to 

ensure your financial strategy aligns 

with your goals. 

HEALTHCARE ACCESS 

As you age, healthcare becomes 

more critical. Ensure you have 

access to healthcare facilities, 

doctors, and pharmacies nearby. 

Consider proximity to hospitals and 

medical specialists, especially if you 

have existing health concerns. 

Buying a retirement property in the 

UK can be a significant step toward a 

comfortable and fulfilling retirement. 

By carefully considering location, 

property type, accessibility, financial 

aspects, and social opportunities, you 

can make an informed decision that 

supports your well-being and financial 

security during your golden years. 

Consult with experts, seek legal 

advice, and take your time to find the 

perfect retirement property that suits 

your needs and preferences. 


NOW OPEN 

Call to book a table 

01451 885453 

Reimagine 

Retirement 

Discover Brio Beechwood Park 

Embrace a supportive lifestyle in a 

welcoming & socially dynamic environment 

Beechwood Park is an Integrated Retirement 

Community of 1, 2 and 3 bedroom apartments, 

nestled within a welcoming Cotswolds village 

Essentials Rent from £2,711 pcm 

Prices from £340,000 * 

*Please note, other charges may apply. 

For more information visit brioretirement.co.uk/stow or call 01451 885494 

Beechwood Park, Wintergreen Court, Fosseway, Stow-on-the-Wold, Gloucestershire, GL54 1FP

The Lifestyle Nov - Dec 2023

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